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Finalists have been chosen in six categories with one other category, Acquisition of the Year, and the two top awards, Dealmaker of the Year and Deal of the Year, being announced in what will be a memorable award ceremony on 31st August at Glasgow's Hilton Hotel.

The prestigious event will be hosted by TV and radio presenter Katie Derham with Katherine Grainger, the British Olympic medal winning rower, as the keynote speaker.

Sale of the Year

British Polythene Industries Plc

BPI stunned the market when it agreed in June of last year to a £261m takeover offer from RPC, Europe’s biggest supplier of rigid plastic packaging. The deal was described at the time as “strategically compelling”, bringing together RPC rigid products with established flexible player BPI.

In addition to creating the opportunity to reward staff, the deal has also allowed Skyscanner to expand more rapidly than would have otherwise been the case.

Vermilion Holdings Ltd

Following three consecutive years of 30 per cent revenue growth, Edinburgh-based Vermilion agreed to a $67m (£51.8m) offer from US-quoted FactSet Research Systems in November 2016. The deal has given Vermilion better access to more markets via FactSet's global network.

MBO/MBI/IBO/EBO of the Year

ACA Press Cutters

The formerly family-owned business was bought in a £6.5m buy-out led by former employee Joseph Keenan and local businessman Dara Changizi, who each took a 44 per cent stake in the operation.

The remaining 12 per cent was purchased by six members of the management team as part of the deal which completed in November 2016.

Incremental Group

Backed by Maven Capital Partners and the Scottish Investment Bank, Glasgow-based Incremental provides digital transformation services to the public and private sectors.

The company kick-started its launch with the December 2016 acquisition of First eBusiness, a Microsoft Dynamics ERP and infrastructure specialist based near Aberdeen.

United Auctions

Following a successful MBO in 2007 and a sustained decade of growth thereafter, the team at Scotland’s leading livestock auctioneer decided the time was right to pave the way for second tier management to take ownership.

The financial foundations for the transaction were put in place over a period of five years, with the deal completed in February 2017.

Spencerfield Spirit Company

Having also successfully entered the craft gin market, the previous owners recognised that the right acquirer could grow the brand even further through additional distribution and marketing support.

Deal Transaction Support Award

BDO

Established in early 2011, BDO’s Scottish Corporate Finance team has become a key part of the firm’s local and national business.

The 12 months to March 2017 was one of its busiest years, with the team doubling in size while advising clients such as Spark Energy, Iomart and FreeAgent.

Johnston Carmichael

Initially established in 2002 with just two senior members of staff based in the Central Belt, the Corporate Finance team is now comprised of 20 people with a geographic coverage extending to Aberdeen.

During the year to March, they completed 47 deals worth a total of more than £480m.

PwC

Other notable assignments include providing due diligence and transaction support to Heineken and Patron Capital on the £1.8bn acquisition of Punch Taverns’ pub portfolio, and advising China’s Ctrip on its £1.4bn acquisition of Skyscanner.

In total, the department of 109 advised on deals worth £10bn last year.

Burness Paull LLP

The corporate finance team includes more than 60 lawyers in offices across Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow. They advised on 267 deals in 2016, with a combined value of more than £9.5bn.

Notable transactions included the sale of BenRiach Distillery, acquisitions by Schlumberger and Subsea 7 and Standard Life’s 1825 acquisition strategy.

Gillespie Macandrew LLP

During the year to February, the 25-strong team easily exceeded its capacity target while also achieving a 67 per cent gross profit.

Among others, the firm advised Rio Tinto on the £330m sale of its UK smelting and power operational company.

Investor of the Year

Archangels Investors

The group arranged £14.6m of investment over 12 funding rounds during 2016, mainly in early-stage technology companies.

The most notable was a £3.6m funding round for Edinburgh-based Zonefox – the biggest investment round by any business angel syndicate in Scotland.

BGF

With offices in Edinburgh and Aberdeen, BGF’s (formerly Business Growth Fund) Scottish team of nine covers the whole of Scotland and Ireland.

The year to April 2017 was the Scottish team’s strongest year, with £42m of funding committed across eight companies.

More information on the awards can be found at www. dealsanddealmakers.co.uk. To book tickets or discuss sponsorship opportunities, please call Caroline Miller on 0141 309 3133 or 0773 3223947 or email caroline.miller@insider.co.uk.